Success Of Porsche:

Porsche Succeeds Again

By Zeke Gervis

For the second time, the Manthey Racing team succeeded again as it won the 24 hour endurance race on the Nürburgring. Porsche drivers Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas and Marc Lieb along with Marcel Tiemann bested more than 200 racers with a one-lap advantage. The team players were driving their new Porsche 911 GT3 RSR that is well equipped with high performing parts like Porsche oxygen sensor.

In front of a crowd with 210,000 spectators, the success at the 35th edition of the long distance classic ecords the eighth victory for a Porsche. Run by Land Motorsport, the 911 GT3 RSR was in the third place behind the Dodge Viper of Zakspeed Racing.

After beginning from pole, the four Manthey Racing drivers set the speed right from the start. The weather condition was extremely challenging due to the combination of heat, rain and fog. But this did not hinder the team from winning. Bernhard, Dumas, Lieb and Tiemann were still in perfect driving condition. The Porsche 911 GT3 RSR that was developed and built in Weissach also finished its maiden race at the Nürburgring 24 hour
endurance race without incurring any technical problems or flaws.

Hartmut Kristen, the pleased head of racing, said that the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR once again confirmed its potential because of its undeniable winning. He largely complements the efforts exerted by the Manthey Racing team who did a nice work. He commented that the four drivers turned quick laps at exactly the appropriate time. He further said that the team drivers were cautious just when the situation warranted it and this hugely
contributed to the team's winning again. He was very pleased that their drivers exuded characteristics of a great long distance pilot. He added that the Nürburgring means a lot to Porsche and that was because of all the Porsche teams who once again put the racing team one step higher.

Olaf Manthey, the team principal could hardly believe his fortune. According to him, before, he had first to wait for a really very long time to get what for him is the most important race all over the world. But now, their team won for the second consecutive year from pole position. He perceives the current victory as a wonderful gift for him as well as for his wife Renate for their silver wedding anniversary this weekend.

The story of the 2007 marathon will be marked in history as one of the most unusual races. The Eifel classic had to be delayed by almost two hours due to the anguishing rain fall. At 4:51 in the afternoon, the heavy rain stopped and so the race started. Then, at 3:54 in the morning, thick fog hindered the race. In effect, the race management was obliged to interrupt the event for about five-and-a-half hours. So the restart took place at
9:31 in the morning. After the race, Timo Bernhard said that winning the Nürburgring 24 hour endurance race in two consecutive years is 'a dream come true'. According to him, they managed to find a good set-up for the oddities of the Nordschleife in the Long Distance Championship. He was so grateful with the cooperation of the new 911 GT3 RSR that had not experience any problem, even a single or minor one, over the 24 hours.

Romain Dumas reacted that the event was amazing. He was particularly amazed by the fact that he have been racing on the Nordschleife for the third time now and he won the recent and one of the most important races around the world. He said that the track was one-of-a-kind and the unpredictable weather condition put a lot of pressure on them. He added that of his many experiences in the race, he would never forget his drive in
thick fog during the night.

Marc Lieb was also definitely proud to have won the greatest race in Germany. He said that he secured class victory at the 24 hour events in Daytona and Le Mans and an overall victory at Spa. He considers the team's success in the Nürburgring a very special one.

This was also Marcel Tiemann's third time to hold the winners' trophy on the podium of this 24 hour endurance race. He said that reliability and fast car are the requirements in winning the race. He complements the entire team for a job well done last weekend.

About the author:
Zeke Gervis has a degree in Human Resource Management. He is an F1 fanatic and is a collector of racing memorabilias. At present, he enjoys working at a consulting firm in Iowa.